D.C. United aiming to sign U.S. under-17 national team captain

D.C. United is making a serious push to sign academy member Chris Durkin, the U.S. under-17 national team captain from the Richmond area, the Insider has learned. He is a defensive midfielder and central defender.

The club has not made a formal offer but is keeping close tabs on him, multiple sources said. Durkin is also eyeing opportunities in Europe. Any trial overseas would have to coordinate with his U-17 schedule. No trips are scheduled at the moment and there is no timetable for him to turn pro.

Durkin, 16, attends the U.S. U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla. Back home this month, he started in United’s 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday in a U.S. Development Academy U-15/16 match. There’s a possibility he will train with United’s first team this summer.

Durkin is from Glen Allen, Va., a suburb north of Richmond. In January, he was among 32 players invited to the Bradenton program by U-17 Coach John Hackworth. Last month, at a tournament in India, he captained the U.S. squad in each of the three matches he started. The Americans played five games over 11 days. In the opener, Durkin started in central defense, then shifted to midfield. Earlier this year, he played in the back against Belgium, Turkey, Brazil, England, Russia and Canada.

Under MLS’s homegrown guidelines, a club has exclusive rights to sign a player with formal ties to its academy system.

United has three homegrowns on the first-team roster: goalkeeper Bill Hamid, defender Jalen Robinson and midfielder Collin Martin.

Past D.C. academy signings were midfielder-defender Andy Najar (now with Belgian club Anderlecht), defender Ethan White (New York City FC), midfielder-defender Conor Shanosky (Louisville City) and forward Michael Seaton (waived by the Portland Timbers last month).

Durkin highlight video: